Customs intelligence officials recovered 82 grams of 24-carat gold from the rectum of a passenger who was allegedly attempting to smuggle the precious metal into India through the Benapole border.
The gold, valued at approximately Tk14.70 lakh, was recovered during an operation conducted by the Benapole Circle of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) near the zero point of the Benapole immigration area on Saturday, according to a press release.
Acting on information about gold smuggling, a CIID team intercepted an India-bound passenger identified as Al Mamun and conducted a preliminary interrogation and search.
Mamun denied carrying any gold, and no contraband was found during the initial physical search.
As suspicion persisted, the officials arranged an X-ray examination of his body. The scan revealed a gold-like object inside his rectum.
The passenger subsequently admitted to carrying the gold, following which officials recovered 82 grams of 24-carat gold from his body.
The estimated market value of the seized gold is Tk14,70,000.
The seized gold was handed over to Customs House, Benapole, for further legal action.
Officials are also investigating whether other individuals or an organised smuggling network were involved in the attempt to smuggle gold across the border by concealing it inside the body.
